TEAM INTREPID BRAVES SEVERE WEATHER FOR BIRTHDAY DIVE

SUE'S BIRTHDAY DIVE

The weather forecast suggested that Sunday would be a bit rough and so no boat dives were planned. Mick and I were up for a dive in the Marina and encouraged glen to join us and so Sunday morning found us at the Marina in brilliant warm sunshine and gin like water with not a ripple in sight. Then the phone rang…
Glen was at the centre and Richard was taking Fizzing out for a Dive on Sue’s “real” birthday (does she get 2 like the Queen then)? Ropes off at 11:00, do we want to go? Of course we did! However, we needed torches and reels/SMB’s that we had not bought for the marina and so a quick trip to Eastbourne to collect the extra kit was necessary.
Arrived Eastbourne 10:05 with overcast and darkening skies. Grabbed the kit and set off just as the snow started to fall. Within a mile cars were pulling over and no way were we going to get over Beachy Head to Seaford. Back to the A22/A27 and an accident at Middle Farm had closed the road but luckily it was quickly cleared. Finally get to the centre at 12:15 in a blizzard.
On the boat instead of the usual dive preparations a snowball fight ensued with Margarett receiving most of the hits. Upon reaching the Brisbane there is another dive boat, luckily just picking up their divers. Richard drops the shot in perfectly and we are in the water – warmth at last! With the air temp at about +2⁰ the water at 8⁰ felt like a bath, however, with vis of about (god only knows) the dive was, well, “interesting”. Back on the boat and the weather had not got any better so we head back at full speed (with Richard imitating Biggles with a dive mask to keep the snow out of his eyes) and to the waiting warmth of the centre.
A big thanks to Richard for getting the boat into the water and for putting up with the cold and to Sue who can now add a “Snow diving” speciality to her list of birthday presents!